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By Comrade Nasir.
At the eve of January 27th 2016 when governor Yahaya Bello was about to take oath of office as the executive governor of Kogi state, I’m sure that almost everybody except me where sincere enough to have known there is no way the incoming governor will perform. An this instinct was anchored on the fact that he never on any serious account go through the nooks and crannies of Kogi state in seeking for votes save a shabby stroll around during the primary election which he came second with a far over four hundred votes difference with the winner, late prince Abubakar Audu.
As authoritative as this thought was, the yardstick of its judgement are matters that remain unresolved up-to this moment – the governor’s relationship with his party and state citizens.
While the events of the time we’re sufficient for any level headed fellow to deal calmly and peacefully with his party men, the God voted governor preferred the path of bragging, arrogance, Abuja powers, I can do it myself and incumbency is it all. Alas, he scaled through the electoral huddles but couldn’t and yet to know the strength of the masses. The same people God used in giving him the mandate if only he knows the man whose shoes he stepped into defeated an incumbent governor.
Two years the memory lane, whenever news comes out of Kogi state, it is only but serially one of two things – Governor Bello versus his party or Governor Bello versus Sen Dino Melaye.
Away from discords, the past two years of Governor Bello has proven beyond reasonable doubt that life is never too hard that living will become impossible, if not, based on the events recorded thus far, the governor would have been ruling animals but thank God for been God.
In an ideal society, when marking a significant anniversary like years in office, it would be accompanied by series of programs which shall include unveiling of sustainable developments, compendium of infrastructure and commissioning of landslide projects but in the case of Kogi state, it has been woes, tears and re-branding. A good number of civil servants, some of whom were employed before the creation of Kogi state have been thrown into confusion and hypertension bordering on retrenchment, unpaid salaries and unjustified screening. In that same vein, the season imply tears as it only brings to mind the friends and family lost to the backdrop of efforts to manage the states unending hardship.
While these sad memories are too numerous to mention, for clarity and fact purposes are the deceased victims of road accidents which occurred in the course of staff screening and verification exercise, bread winners who lost their lives in the den of Kidnappers, the aged who died as a result of their inability to meet up their medical demands, a labour leader assassinated in a very controversial circumstance, civil servants who allegedly committed suicide and a host of other unpleasant but true events that heralded the state in the past two years.
While payment of salaries and pensions has at a point become acceptable to only occur as a manna, it is very disheartening for the government not to have been able to embark on any capital project it can call it’s own save to recourse at re-branding projects executed by previous administrations. The only project the present administration seem to be boasting with is the Kogi state Ultra modern park, Felele, the confluence scientific image and diagnostic center Lokoja, confluence rice and the Allo cement processing factory Itobe. And of course, these projects are only but tips out of the many silent achievements of Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, the immediate past governor of the state.
Whether or not this tale will change in the next couple of days, weeks, months or years left is not of me to say but should nothing change, the governor should be aware he is setting a bad precedent for his reelection, kinsmen and youths that will aspire to govern Kogi state some day.
True, only God gives power and to him we shall equally give account of our actions. While I wouldn’t hesitate to congratulate the self styled white lion and all his supporters on the occasion of his two years in office, it is pertinent to add that it is not just enough to be counting years. What truly matter is the impact and good it brings on the people. I hope the new direction gets to work.
God Bless Kogi State
– Comrade A. M. Nasir is a concerned citizen and public opinion moulder.
+234(0)7068416768
Email, naadejohs@gmail.com
Twitter handle – @amnasiru
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